Perhaps if she searched by date. But when did Guy go missing? The day he was left for dead on the beach, or could it have been some time before? The articles and postings always mentioned age, but she didnʹt know exactly how old he was.
Ivy continued scanning, clicking on entries, reading description after description of people who had disappeared into thin air. Sheʹd had no idea there were so many.
Had something terrible happened to them, she wondered, or had they ʺescapedʺ and lied to start new lives? Engrossed in what she was reading, she didnʹt hear the footsteps. She wasnʹt aware of Will until he leaned on the back of her chair.
ʺIvy, what are you doing?ʺ She slammed down the computer lid and whirled around. ʺWill! You scared me,ʺ she said, knowing that was a flimsy excuse for her overreaction. Will remained unruffled. ʺWhoʹs Luke?ʺ When he reached as if he was going to open the laptop, she laid her hand on it. ʺI donʹt know.ʺ
ʺIs that Guyʹs real name?ʺ
ʺIf it is,ʺ she replied, ʺIʹm sure you would have discovered that by now with your thorough investigation.ʺ Will grimaced. ʺIʹm not your enemy. Ivy.ʺ
ʺAnd you think that Guy is?ʺ He folded his arms. ʺI think you canʹt tell the difference between a guy caring about you and a guy using you.ʺ
Ivy felt the heat rise in her cheeks. ʺGet out of here! Get out now!ʺ
Before Will could slam the door behind him. Ivy closed down her search and turned off the computer. If only she could turn off the growing fear in her mind.
FROM THE MOMENT SHE AWOKE TUESDAY MORNING, Ivy checked her cell phone, but Guy didnʹt call. It was hard not to phone him, but heʹd said he wanted space, so she forced herself to be patient.
Late in the afternoon, finding the phoneʹs silence unbearable, she drove to St.
Peterʹs to practice piano, hoping to fill her head with Chopin, Schubert, and Beethoven. At six thirty, she picked up a sandwich at a cafe near the church, then returned to practice.
What if something has happened to Guy? she thought, and almost used that as an excuse to call him. But she knew that Kip had her phone number ʺin case of emergencyʺ and would have contacted her if there had been a problem. At eight twenty, she drove home, setting her phone on the car seat so she could quickly pick it up.
Arriving at the Seabright, Ivy saw that both Kelseyʹs and Willʹs cars were gone.
The cottageʹs windows were dark, and inside it was silent. Ivy walked quietly, reluctant to disturb the buildingʹs twilight In the kitchen only the night‐light burned, shining on a note from Aunt Cindy that said she would be out for the evening.
Hoping to take her mind off Guy, Ivy headed upstairs to fetch her paperback mystery. Halfway up the steps she stopped. Candlelight flickered against the bedroomʹs low ceiling. She tiptoed to the top of the stairs and stared with amazement at Beth, who was sitting on the floor by Dhanyaʹs bed, focusing on the Ouija board.
Above the circle of tea lights, Bethʹs profile was ghostly white, a streak of crimson staining her cheek. She gave no sign of knowing that Ivy was moving toward her.
With her fingers resting on the planchette, Beth closed her eyes and chanted softly. Ivy leaned forward, trying to hear the words. ʺAnswer, answer, give me your answerʺ Beth murmured.
Seconds ticked by. Bethʹs hands, shoulders, and head were still. The only movement was that of her eyes beneath pale, closed lids. She was like a person dreaming, her eyes darting behind the lids, seeing things that Ivy could not.
ʺ Answer, answer, give me your answer.ʺ
The planchette started to move, its motion erratic at first.
ʺ Answer, answer!ʺ Beth chanted, her voice more insistent. The triangular piece moved in a slow circle around the board — counterclockwise.
Ivy counted six circles. Then six more, and six more again.
ʺ Answer, answer, give me your answer, Is it you?ʺ
The planchette moved to the letter G.
Ivy held her breath. Guy or Gregory?
The plastic slid sideways and down to the letter R.
Ivy watched, nerves tingling.
E…G…O…R…Y…
ʺGregory,ʺ Ivy mouthed.
I…S…
ʺIs,ʺ she said softly, but Beth, deep in a trance, didnʹt hear.
H…
ʺStop it!ʺ Ivy cried out.
E…
ʺStop it, Beth!ʺ
R…
ʺStop it now!ʹʹ
Before the planchette touched the final E, Ivy leaned down and swept it toward GOOD BYE, then off the board.
Bethʹs head jerked back as if Ivy had slapped her. ʺBeth, what are you doing?ʺ
Ivy demanded. ʺI canʹt believe youʹd try to—ʺ
ʺHeʹs hereʺ Beth said in a faraway voice. ʹThereʹs no stopping him now.ʺ
A loud knock made Ivy jump. She glanced toward the stairway — someone was at the cottage door. Beth leaned forward and calmly blew out each candle. Before she reached the last Ivy ran down the steps. Taking a deep breath, she opened the front door.
ʺOh, thank God!ʺ she said. ʺIvy, are you okay?ʺ Guy asked and quickly stepped inside. ʺYouʹre trembling. Whatʹs wrong?ʺ
ʺIʹm just — just spooked.ʺ It was too dark to see his eyes, but Ivy could feel Guy studying her. ʺSpooked by me?ʺ he asked. She laughed shakily. ʺNo. Beth—ʺ
How could she explain? ʺItʹs a long story.ʺ
ʺSo letʹs take a long walk,ʺ he said.
ʺTHE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING ON A BEACH IS that one half of the world is the sky,ʺ Ivy told Guy as they stood at the top of the steps that led down the bluff.
ʺOne half of the world is the stars,ʺ he replied. Ivy turned to him. Tristan, she thought do you remember? Do you remember kissing me in a cathedral of stars?
Guy gazed upward, his head back, taking in the stars. ʺTheyʹre so bright when youʹre away from town lights. They look closer.ʺ
ʺClose enough to touch,ʺ Ivy said. ʺThereʹs Orion, the hunter.” Guy pointed. ʺI recognize his sword.ʺ They walked down the steps together, removed their shoes, and followed the path through the dunes. ʺWant to walk by the waterʹs edge?ʺ Guy asked. ʺNow that I know how to float,” he added with a smile, ʺIʹm not afraid of drowning in an inch of ocean.ʺ
Ivy reached for Guyʹs hand and they walked toward the water. The tide was receding, leaving behind a cache of silver pebbles and shells. After they had walked a distance, Ivy turned to look at their footprints, his close to hers, matching strides. Guy turned too, then smiled and put his arm around her as they continued to walk.
ʺSo tell me what spooked you,ʺ. Guy said, ʺSomething about Beth?ʺ Ivy nodded.
ʺBeth is psychic.ʺ Guy slowed midstride. ʺShe is?ʺ
ʺYes, she truly has the gift. But itʹs a curse, too. What Beth sees, what she senses, often frightens her.ʺ
ʺYou said she helped you last year. Did she figure out that Gregory was the killer?ʺ
ʺShe figured out an important part of it.ʺ ʺWhat did Beth see tonight?ʺ he asked.
Ivy shrugged off his question. ʺIt doesnʹt matter. I overreacted. Sometimes I think that Beth mixes up what she sees and what she imagines. Sheʹs got a very fertile imagination.ʺ
With one hand, Guy turned Ivyʹs face toward him and gazed at her steadily. ʺI think it does matter, because it upset you. But youʹll tell me when youʹre ready.ʺ
Then he dropped his arm from her shoulder, and said, ʺWatch this!ʺ
He dashed into the water, up to his thighs, then turned to grin at her, letting a wave race past him. ʺAre you impressed?ʺ he asked. ʺTell me youʹre impressed.ʺ